Try it out and listen to your body. Some people call the extra mileage them junk miles... but like you it's my fix/therapy. You could also try cross training with cycling (bike trainer in winter) and/or swimming. You can train for hours and hours and never get bored or over trained in any of the disciplines

If you're running when you feel like crap physically, then don't do 7 days a week. Try yoga on your rest days instead for mental health?

Same as my response elsewhere, you've not long finished C25K. Which is much the same as you got when you asked the same question in the C25K group.

Use non running days to cross train.

I run everyday usually, but if I were feeling depressed, I would seek professional help. Yes, there are cute pictures that say running is a cure-all for life's difficulties, but some things you just shouldn't play around with.

Running is equivalent to medication for treating depression, so it is well worth considering. Many people run daily without problems. I have a friend who is doing ultramarathons after only a year of running. I can't run more than four times a week without it causing knee problems, because I just don't have a good runner's body. Personally, I find that running is vastly superior to other workouts for my mental health, although studies I've read suggest that other workouts help as well.

I would suggest making changes gradually and listening to both your body and your mind. Maybe keeping a log of both could help you find the right balance for you. If increasing the running days causes pain then find cross-training options. Trust yourself.

veganbettie wrote: »

what constitutes "not long finished" C25K? I finished in the beginning of June..

Fair enough, it's longer than I recalled. Notwithstanding that, since you appear to have an objective then work a plan for that, and do other training around it.

Aimlessly running every day for no purpose cf working towards an objective. Subject to the reasons for your depression, the latter is more likely to be beneficial to you.

meredithco wrote: »

Running is equivalent to medication for treating depression, so it is well worth considering. Many people run daily without problems. I have a friend who is doing ultramarathons after only a year of running. I can't run more than four times a week without it causing knee problems, because I just don't have a good runner's body. Personally, I find that running is vastly superior to other workouts for my mental health, although studies I've read suggest that other workouts help as well.

I would suggest making changes gradually and listening to both your body and your mind. Maybe keeping a log of both could help you find the right balance for you. If increasing the running days causes pain then find cross-training options. Trust yourself.

No, no, and no. Horrible idea to plant in peoples' heads.

for the record, there is evidence that exercise CAN treat depression effectively.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise-and-Depression-report-excerpt.htm
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(04)00241-7/pdf

Seeing a heath professional is always recommended. Sometimes they know more stuff than we do. All that school, right?

That said, my personal experience has shown me that exercise, specifically running, effectively treats my tendancy towards anxiety and depression. I'm in your boat, I'd like to develop a daily running habit to help ease anxiety.

After a run, life seems so much more manageable. I've learned which habits control my anxiety and which make it worse. I think everyone is different and the most important person to make decisions for your mental health is YOU. Seeing a professional can often make valuable information available to us as we make decisions.

That's my two cents. I wish you the best!

veganbettie wrote: »

Cross posting, hoping to get more responses from seasoned runners.

What are all the runner's running schedules like?

I'm currently running about 3 to 4 days a week, but looking into bumping it up to every day with maybe one rest day, not sure if that will cause injury or not, so i'm looking for some advice.

Reason being is running seems to REALLY help my anxiety/depression, if I have more than 1 day where I don't run, I start to become really anxious which leads to depression for me...not sure if I should just jump back on the meds, or if I should try running more.

Any advice on scheduling would be great, or if you have a similar experience with running helping depression/anxiety, i'd love to hear from you as well.

Was sort of thinking for just doing a mile or so on my normal rest days, and then at least 5ks on my normal run days, and then a long run on the weekend. Granted a mile may not be enough..

I haven't had the chance to read everybody else's replies. However, your post resonated with me because I can relate. I started my hobby of running over the summer. Never being a natural athlete, running has been a challenge. But over the course of the past 7 months, I have grown to really like running. In the summer, I was out doing C25k and C210k every other day. I was doing 3-4 days of running. Not only was I consistently losing weight every week, but running had become therapy. I was able to disassociate from my problems, my thoughts, my anxiety and worries for that time. Pushing myself to go out, jam out and get my runs in helped me feel stronger and better about myself.

As the weather grew colder, the night grew darker sooner and life got busier, it has been harder for me to get my runs in. When snow hit my area, there was a 3 week period where I didn't get any running in. As a primary outdoor runner (I have no gym membership), this crippled me.

I think my anxiety and other issues would be better if I was able to get out and run more...or going to a doctor and getting on some medicine. You aren't alone, OP.

I'm 7 months into running and went from feeling like near death at 30 seconds of running to running up to 6 miles at a time (very slowly, haha). What has been easy on me is doing 3 mile runs throughout the week and a longer run of about 6 miles on a Saturday or Sunday. However, I was lucky enough to have all of Christmas week off from work. Therefore, I've been cranking out more running than normal. I have done three or four different runs this week, each between 5-6 miles. I have found that the first half is now fairly easy for me. Doing 5k status is fine. Some days, I can get through that second half with no problems.
The past 2 times that I have run 6 miles this week, it was painful! Haha.

My advice would be that if you enjoy running, and if you can get out more, try to do a bit more running! It is such a healthy way to destress

However, if you've needed meds before, maybe those would help as well. I know I eventually will need them. Or a therapist. I went to my very first session last Monday!